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At first Andy didn't really notice that something was happening. It began very subtly.
At first, Emily started texting her throughout the day. Nothing big, just small things.
"The meeting went horribly, could those people become even more boring?"
"There's a new cafe near my place, you might like it. They have onion bagels."
"Hope you didn't forget the scarf, it's windy today"
"I know you're busy, but don't forget to eat! Runway can't afford a scandal of its employee dying of malnutrition."
At the same time Miranda became... less icy.
"That blouse doesn't look too horrible on you, but try it in ivory—it would work better with your complexion." Was it..? A compliment?
"Your last feature proposal was almost creative." And Andy could swear she saw the hint of a smile on Miranda's lips.
Then somehow Andy became Roark and Bronwyn's unofficial Literature tutor. Every other Thursday she would come to Emily's house and help them with their reading and essays. The improvement in grades was instant. On one of those Thursdays Emily poured them both a glass of wine. "You know, they really like you." She looked at Andy with a pensiveexpression on her face for a long moment and added, "They are becoming teenagers, they do not think that I am cool anymore, they believe their teachers are ancient and irrelevant, but they still need someone to look up to." She finished her wine. "And I am really glad that they've chosen you and not some TikTok influencer."
And at the same time she - once again - somehow became Miranda's dog-walking partner on Sunday mornings.
"Gio is a rescue, he doesn't trust men," Miranda looked at her with a distinct mischief in her eyes and then smirked and continued. "Can you believe I broke up with Stuart because my dog didn't like him?"
Andy put a leash on the dog and Gio became so happy from the indication of an upcoming walk that he started jumping and licking Andy's face.
"Well, it seems that he likes you."
Andy noticed this something only when gifts started happening.
New Birkin bag from Emily - "Thought it might suit that grey-ish cheap jacket you mistakenly call «vintage»"
Engraved Montblanc pen from Miranda - "It's a bad look for a Senior Feature editor to carry a Bic pen."
Tickets to the Broadway premiere that was sold out months in advance from Emily - "You mentioned you wanted to see it."
Leonor Fini's Portrait de Alida Valli II - estimated price around one fucking million dollars. Andy tried to return it, but Miranda just shrugged and said, "It doesn't fit into the aesthetic of the townhouse"
Then why did you buy it during the latest auction? Andy thought but didn't dare to ask.
For International Women's Day she received from Emily a certificate that there was made a donation of one fucking million dollars - apparently those two go tit for tat - to a women's shelter.
The final blow was when Andy returned from lunch and saw on the table her coffee order with a note, "don't fall asleep during the meeting. M."
Andy needed help.
"Nigel, what is happening?" Who else she was meant to ask if not her gay fairy godmother?
"You still haven't abandoned that provincial Ohio upbringing, have you?"
"Not a good time for insults, but I guess yeah, that's my provincial upbringing."
"You are being courted, you idiot. And by the two most fascinating women in New York, I might say."
Well, that's a problem.
A problem quickly became the problem and the problem escalated fast.
The first thing Andy noticed when she was leaving the Elias-Clark building happened to be two gorgeous bouquets. One with red carnations and sunflowers and another one with chrysanthemums and lavender.
A voice from the lavender side jabbed: "In many cultures people bring carnations only to funerals, you know."
The carnation side bit back, in a distinct British accent: "Then she'll already have flowers for your funeral, because I doubt that you'll live longer than those bloody carnations!"
"Only if she doesn't sooner commit suicide from your banality - sunflowers! Yeah like she's your Sun, how original!"
Andy felt like she needed to interfere. She cleared her throat before another mean retort left Emily's mouth.
"Hm, I happen to have a reservation for tonight at the new Thai place nearby, I think the three of us should talk."
The ride in the cab was nothing short of the pinnacle of awkwardness. Andy in the front, Miranda, Emily and their bouquets in the back. The driver did his best to breathe as rarely and as quietly as possible.
The tension only grew when they entered the restaurant and ordered wine. Andy knew she had to lead this conversation, but didn't know how to start.
"For Christ's sake, Andy." Emily drank her wine in one gulp. "She is old, toxic, four times divorced, a workaholic, and still treats you like the inexperienced assistant you were twenty years ago!"
"Oh, you are the one to talk about being divorced, a workaholic, and toxic!" Miranda hissed back immediately. "At least I do not have two teenagers!" She turned her back to Andy. "And let me tell you, Andrea, teenagers are hell," she looked at Emily and smirked, "luckily, my kids are all grown ups now, so that wouldn't be a problem with me."
"Yeah, because soon you'll have grandchildren! And what if Andy wants a family? Wants kids? I can give her that, I would love to raise another child or even two!"
"It seems like you cannot come up with any negatives about me other than my age, while I can come up with plenty, Emily. Internalized homophobia and Catholic guilt are not even in the top ten." Miranda turned to Andy and her voice softened. "You are a smart woman, Andrea, you know that with age comes wisdom, maturity, experience, connections, money... a lot of money, I'd dare to say."
"Oh, like Andy would date someone for money and to get ahead in her career! If you think she's some kind of gold digger, you don't know her at all!"
Oh well, that's touching.
"I am not implying that that's what Andrea might solely be interested in, I am just laying out all my advantages, none of which you - a vendor with commitment issues - can offer!"
"That vendor is not poor either, Miranda. I can provide for Andrea no worse than anyone out there! And, Jesus, you dare to bring up commitment issues?" Emily almost shouted. "Besides, since when are you a lesbian? The last Runway issue?" Her voice was pure sarcasm at this point. "Just because being gay is fashionable once again, doesn't mean that you should follow that trend, Miranda."
"I am not following anything, I made being gay fashionable!"
Emily took a deep breath in.
"All of this doesn't matter, Miranda, not at all."
Oh, finally.
"Yes, Emily, you are right," Miranda added in a small voice.
"Who do you pick?" was said simultaneously.
Now she was screwed.
"Oh, ah, ehm..." Andy took a sip of water, then a sip of wine, then another sip of water. The situation was delicate. Extremely delicate.
And then she was saved.
"Hello, darling, you didn't inform me we would have company for tonight!" Amari placed a chaste kiss on Andy's cheek. And blushed and turned her eyes to Miranda and Emily, they both were shocked and terrified.
"So, yeah.. Well, Amari and I are dating." She took her purse. "And I think we'll have our dinner at my place." She took the confused Amari by the elbow and almost ran out of the restaurant.
Emily and Miranda sat for a minute in awkward silence.
"My kids are not teenagers yet, you know, they are only eight and nine."
"And I am divorced only three times, Stuart and I never even went to the court room, I wore a ring just for appearance."
Emily huffed a laugh.
"Is there anything you did not for the sake of appearance?"
"I could say the same thing to you, the woman who made a million-dollar charity donation, isn't it more than in your kids' trust fund?"
"It is not. And you make fun of this donation, only because it was a good move and you didn't think of it first!"
Miranda smirked at that. She looked at Emily for a moment, really looked at her. Emily got a bit nervous under Miranda's stare and cleared her throat, meaning to say something, but Miranda cut her off.
"Yes, that was a good move. Your strategy was good."
"I had the best teacher, you know." Emily raised her glass in a toast-like motion.
"I wonder if it is time for the teacher to try to learn something from the student." Miranda winked at Emily and called the waiter. They were definitely staying for dinner, probably even for dessert .